Well instrument, including pressurized battery



Oct. 13, 1953 c, w T 2,654,960

WELL INSTRUMENT, INCLUDING PRESSURIZED BATTERY Filed July 7, 1952 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED ST WELL INSTRUMENT, INCLUDING PRESSURIZED BATTERY John C. Hewitt, Long Beach, Calif.

Application July 7, 1952, Serial No. 297,580

13 Claims.

This invention has to do with improvements in battery energized instruments for use in wells at depths where the well temperatures are considerably above atmospheric. More particularly the invention is directed to certain innovations in such instruments whereby it becomes possible to increase the battery efiiciency and output, particularly under circumstances which ordinarily are considered to limit or impair the life and efficiency of the battery. The present instruments have been disclosed but not claimed in my copending application No. 93,460, filed May 16, 1949, on Battery Energized Well Instrument, of which this application is a continuation-in-part.

It is to be understood that the invention is generally adaptable to various types and kinds of electrically energized instruments intended to be operated within a well, all of which may be characterized as comprising an element or device electrically energized by current supplied by a battery carried with the device into the well. As an illustrative and preferred embodiment, the invention will be described in conjunction With oil well directional recording instruments of the type employing a fluid tight housing containing an appropriate photographic recorder, and an electrically energizable lamp for illuminating the recording means.

As is known, when an instrument is lowered in a well, particularly a liquid filled well, to a considerable depth, the instrument may be subjected to temperatures above those temperatures at which the ordinarily used batteries can retain their efiiciencies. Generally the effect of the higher temperature encountered is to vaporize, dehydrate or otherwise impair the battery electrolyte, with the result that the output and effective life of the battery are seri-, ously reduced. In fact, in some instances such high temperatures exist as to prevent the use of submersed instrument batteries. Heretofore it has been attempted, in order to prevent deterioration of the battery, to isolate the battery from the well liquid temperatures, as by placing the battery in the same sealed housing that contains the lamp or other element to be energized by the battery current. However, the protection afiorded the battery in this manner has proven inadequate where the well temperatures reach any very high values.

The invention has for its major objects not only to maintain, but to actually activate the normal current potential of the battery by employing certain concepts directly contrary to the common practices of protecting the batteries in submersed instruments against increases in temperature. Instead of attempting to isolate the battery from temperature conditions in the well, the invention has been developed on the premise of utilizing the efiects of high temperatures to maintain and, according to tests, actually increase the battery efficiencies.

It has been found that the potential of a conventional dry cell battery in a well tool may be maintained or increased by subjecting the battery to increasing pressure as it is lowered in a well, even though the temperature of the well liquid is so high that under other conditions, the battery would be impaired. Maintenance or increase of the battery efliciency is believed to result from compression and compactionof its granular components, with resultant increaseof the battery potential. This eilect may be enhanced by maintenance of the battery as it is compressed in contact with an aqueous or watercontaining liquid. Apparently, the water containing liquid serves to supply to the battery any moisture which may be needed, and to prevent the drying of the battery which usuallyoccurs at high temperatures.

structurally, I subject the battery to the desired pressure by incorporating in the well device a body of liquid which acts upon an increase in temperature to produce an increasing pressure. Thus, as the device is lowered into a superatmospheric temperature zone in a well, the liquid produces an increasing pressure which acts to compact the battery and maintain its eiiiciency. The liquid may be aqueous, and the battery be exposed directly to either the liquid itself, or its vapor, to thus supply any needed moisture to the battery. Particularly contemplated is an arrangement in which the liquid is contained within a cavity formed in a closure which acts as a removable wall for the battery receiving chamber. Preferably the battery and the lamp or other element energized by the battery are contained respectively within a pair of isolated fluidtight chambers in a single housing.

All the various features and objects of the invention, as well as the details of certain typical embodiments, will be understood more clearly from the following description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a view showing lowered within a well a directional recording instrument embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the instrument of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a, fragmentary sectional view illustrating a variation form of the invention.

For the present purposes it will suffice to illustrate generally, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the perti nent structure of a typical directional recording instrument, the light source in which is energized by current from one or more batteries to be maintained under conditions discussed 'in the foregoing. In use. the instrument is suspended (see Fig. 1) within the heated liquid IS in a well H8 by a conventional well string I II o other suspending structure.

The recording instrument proper, generally indicated at IQ, is shown to be contained within a protective, pressure resistant body or housing comprising an upper section H, a vertically intermediate section l2, and a tapered bottom closure section Hi. All three of these sections pressures at the bottom of a deep liquid filled.

well. The upper end of upper section a! may be appropriately adapted for connection :to a lowering cable or pipe string, as by an upperthreaded bore M. The three sections of the housing may be interconnected by threaded joints iii-and H," which are appropriately sealed,:=as=by O-.rings;;l5.

Upper section II contains a vertically extending fluidtight chamber 18, which contains the recording instrument Hi and is isolated against communication awiththe well liquid '19 aboutzthe housing. The lower wall 'of'chambe'r i8 is formed by section l2 :of Ethe housing whichcontains .a

second fiuidtight chamberror vertical bore 20, isolated from .athe wellv liquid: and from chamber I 9, and; containing battery 2|.

The instrument: i contained-within the chamber :18 zis shown' to comprise a'case or seal .22 M

within the upper interior of which may bepositioned any known type of directional-indicating l and: photographic recording zmeans, diagrammatically. indicated as a unitzbyrthe dotted lines 23:,mwhichreceives light from the electrically energized lamp 24, a grounded lead to which is indicated-at-ZS. Current-is supplied to the lamp underzcontrolsofrfan appropriate timing device or time control switch, conventionally indicated at 26, electricallytconnected-to the lamp and receiving currentlthroughthelead 21.

Current is supplie'd'tothe lamp 124' under contro1=ofthe-timing device :26 from the battery 2! located-within the bottom chamber !9 of the housing-x Current:flow--is-from the battery to the lead 21 through a conductorZS extending through an insulator sleeve-29,'-the-flanged ends. 38 and bottom'closure 13,-andengages against the bottom wall of that recess.

The battery .2 I- may beany'. suitable type of galvanicor-voltaic..cell, including the customarily used and so-called dry cell batteries-havinga self-contained electrolyte. functionalby virtue of the battery composition, or Imay use asilver- .chloride.:-magnesium water-activated battery of the typ -.manu'facturedby the Burgess Battery Company and which is .electrically activated by immersion. inwater or an aqueous liquid. As previously. indicated,. serious limitations have been. placed upon. the useof such batteries in wellswhere the. temperature may range around ,say,250 F.'"and.upward, because of dehydration or. other temperature-created impairment. of the battery electrolyte. In accordance with the invention, I have discovered that from the standpoint of practical performance of the battery, its potential output may not only be protected, but in a large percentage of instances actually improved, by maintaining the battery under sufficiently high external pressure to subject. the battery material or granules to a rather high degree of compaction, and to a pressure sufiicient would otherwise have.

to prevent vaporizationuofvits electrolyte when heated to the temperatures existing at the submersion depth. The resulting compaction tends to reduce the internal resistance of the cell and,

. as .stated, to amaintain or increase its life and electrical output. Also where proper protection of performance of the battery requires its maintenance in the presence of moisture or water, provision -is made for exposing the battery to moisture or an aqueous liquid while the battery is subjected to compaction.

To achieve these purposes, I provide in the battery chamber Elk-rand particularly withinthe portion of that chamber formed by. recesssfil of bottom closure 3, a :body of' liquid 38, whichiacts toidevelop an increasing vapor or steam pressure in the portion oftherchamber 28 above the liquid leVeL-asdthe liquidis heated byheat received from'the well iliquid upon-lowering of the device into a well. As will be appreciated, this pressure exerts directlyagainst the battery a compacting force which increases with increasing temperature, and thus ccunteracts'any adverse effect on the battery which the increasing temperature To attain such a pressure increasing effect, the-liquid should have a boiling point which is lower than the boiling poi-nt'of the battery electrolyte. Also, it is-desirable that the liquid .beaqueous orwater-containing; so that the vapor surrounding the battery will supply moisture to. it. Suitable liquids which may .be used inthe device are:-;

Ethyl alcohol-water mixture Prophy' alcohol-water mixture Menthyl alcohol-water mixture Acetone-water mixture Water Fig. 2 representsa variational form ofthe invention which is thesame asthat of Fig.1, except that the liquid 38. is filled into the battery chamber toa level such that. at all timestheliquid itself contacts and supplies. moisture .to the battery...

I claim:

1..Apparatus, for operation within a superatmospheric. temperature zone in a well comprising a fluidtight housing to be lowered into the well, a body of liquid in the housing adapted to produce. an increasing pressure upon increase in temperature as the housing is lowered into the. well, .a battery insaid housing subjected to said increasing. pressure created by the. liquid, and .an electrically energized element electrically connectible to said battery.

2. Apparatus. for. operation within .a super.- atmospheric temperature zone. in a well comprising: a fluidtight housing to .be lowered into the well, a .fluidin-the housing partially in liquid form and adapted ltoproduce an increasing pressure -upon.increase intemperature as the. housing'is lowered-into the well, .a battery .in said housing exposed tosaidfiuid and subjectedlto saidpressurethereof, and .an electrically energized: element. electrically connectible to said battery.

3. Apparatus foroperation withinasuperatmospheric temperature zone. in a well-comprising a fluidtig-ht housing to be lowered into the well,an aqueous fluid in the housing partially in liquid form and adapted to produce an increasing pressure upon increase in temperature as the housing is lowered .into the well, a battery in said housing exposed to said fluid and subjected to. said pressure thereof, and an electrically energized element electrically connectible to said battery.

4.. Apparatus for operation within a superatmospheric temperature zone in a well comprising a fluidtight housing to be lowered into the well, a fluid in the housing partially in liquid form and partially in vapor form and adapted to produce an increasing vapor pressure upon increase in temperature as the housing is lowered into the well, a battery in said housing exposed to the vapor of said fluid and subjected to said pressure thereof, and an electrically energized element electrically connectible to said battery.

5. Apparatus for operation within a superatmospheric temperature zone in a well comprising fluidtight housing means to be lowered into the Well, a body of liquid in said housing means adapted to produce an increasing pressure upon increase in temperature as the housing means is lowered into the well, a battery in said housing means subjected to said increasing pressure created by the liquid, and an electrically energized element contained within said fluidtight housing means and electrically connectible to said battery.

6. Apparatus for operation within a superatmospheric temperature zone in a well comprising fluidtight housing means to be lowered into the well containing two fluidtight chambers isolated against fluid flow therebetween, a body of liquid in one of said chambers adapted to produce an increasing pressure upon increase in temperature as the housing means is lowered into the well, a battery in said first chamber subjected to said increasing pressure created by the liquid, and an electrically energized element contained within said second chamber and electrically connectible to said battery.

'7. Apparatus for operation within a superatmospheric temperature zone in a well comprising fluidtight housing means to be lowered into the well, a body of liquid in said housing means adapted to produce an increasing pressure upon increase in temperature as the housing means is lowered into the Well, a battery in said housing means subjected to said increasing pressure created by the liquid, directional recording means in said housing means, and an electrically energized lamp in the housing means for illuminating said recording means and electrically connectible to said battery.

8. Apparatus for operation within a superatmospheric temperature zone in a well comprising fluidtight housing means to be lowered into the well containing two fluidtight chambers isolated against fluid flow therebetween, a fluid in the housing partially in liquid form and partially in vapor form adapted to produce an increasing pressure upon increase in temperature as the housing means is lowered into the well, a battery in said first chamber exposed to said fluid and subjected to said pressure thereof, and an electrically energized element contained within said second chamber and electrically connectible to said battery.

9. Apparatus for operation within a superatmospheric temperature zone in a well comprising fluidtight housing means to be lowered into the well containing two fluidtight chambers isolated against fluid flow therebetween, a fluid in the housing partially in liquid form and partially in vapor form adapted to produce an increasing pressure upon increase in temperature as the housing means is lowered into the well, a battery in said first chamber exposed to said fluid and subjected to said pressure thereof, directional recording means in said second chamber, and an electrically energized lamp in said second chamber for illuminating said recording means and electrically connectible to said battery.

10. Apparatus for operation within a superatmospheric temperature zone in a well comprising a fluidtight housing to be lowered into the well, a body of liquid in the housing adapted to produce an increasing pressure upon increase in temperature as the housing is lowered into the well, a battery in said housing subjected to said increasing pressure created by the liquid, said housing including an openable closure forming a portion of a wall of the housing and having a recess containing said liquid, and an electrically energized element electrically connectible to said battery.

11. Apparatus for operation within a superatmospheric temperature zone in a well comprising a fluidtight housing to be lowered into the well, a body of liquid in the housing adapted to produce an increasing pressure upon increase in temperature as the housing is lowered into the well, a battery in said housing subjected to said increasing pressure created by the liquid, said housing including an openable closure forming a portion of a wall of the housing and having a recess containing said liquid, a spring within said housing partially received within said closure recess and bearing against said battery, and an electrically energized element electrically connectible to said battery.

12. Apparatus for operation while submerged in heated liquid in a well comprising a vertically elongated fluidtight housing containing upper and lower fluidtight chambers isolated against fluid flow therebetween, an aqueous fluid in said lower chamber partially in liquid form and partially in vapor form and adapted to produce an increasing pressure upon increase in temperature as the housing is lowered into said heated liquid in the well, a battery in said lower chamber exposed to said fluid therein and subjected to said pressure thereof, and an electrically energized element contained within said upper chambers and electrically connectible to said battery.

13. Apparatus for operation while submerged in heated liquid in a well comprising a vertically elongated fluidtight housing containing upper and lower fluidtight chambers isolated against fluid flow therebetween, an aqueous fluid in said lower chamber partially in liquid form and partially in vapor form and adapted to produce an increasing pressure upon increase in temperature as the housing is lowered into said heated liquid in the well, a battery in said lower chamber exposed to said fluid therein and subjected to said pressure thereof, said housing including a bottom removable closure forming a bottom wall of said bottom chamber and having an upper recess containing the portion of said aqueous fluid which is in liquid form, directional indicating means contained within said upper chamber, and an electrically energized lamp contained within said upper chamber for illuminating said recording means and electrically connectible to said battery, and a conductor extending between said upper and lower chambers for electrically connecting said battery and lamp.

JOHN C. HEWITT.

No references cited. 

